Outputs revealed as BMW discloses re-imagined i3’s debut date
· Citizen
Teased for the first time last month, BMW has now revealed power outputs and the launch date of the all-new i3.
From city car to sedan
Making the transition to a sedan, unlike the original city car that went out of production eight years ago, the effective electric version of the 3 Series will become the next Neue Klasse model after the new iX3.
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Confirmed for its world debut on 18 March, the latest series of teaser images still reveals little of what the i3 will look like. However, the frontal design of the iX3 will be applied.
Power revealed
A performance M variant will, reportedly, arrive in 2027. Picture: BMWUnderneath, the i3 will use a bespoke platform designed from the start to only accommodate an electric powertrain.
Unknown until now, the 800-volt architecture has been fitted with BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive electric hardware, which supports DC charging up to 400kW.
As for outputs, the i3 will have a dual-motor setup and produce 345kW/645Nm. The size of the battery pack wasn’t disclosed.
M(ore) to come
Meanwhile, the unofficially titled i3 M will debut in 2027 and produce in the region of 1 000kW.
Unlike its sibling, though, the M will have a reported quad-motor setup. However, this hasn’t been approved by BMW.
Heart of Joy
Whereas the next-generation 3 Series will continue to have a combustion engine as part of the dual platform strategy first mentioned in 2023, the i3 will also get BMW’s Heart of Joy supercomputer system.
“Complemented by the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software developed in-house, [Heart of Joy] forms the new driving and dynamics control unit, controlling the powertrain, brakes and some steering functions along with [energy] recuperation,” BMW said.
“Its responses are ten times faster than with previous systems. Even on slippery surfaces, the Heart of Joy ensures agile propulsion”.
Not yet for us
Once revealed, production will commence in the second half of the year at BMW’s main plant in Munich.
As it stands, its arrival in South Africa isn’t known.
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